ECOWAS, which stands for the Economic Community of West African States, was established in the year 1975. It is a regional organization comprising of 15 member countries located in West Africa, with the aim of promoting economic cooperation and integration among its members. The founding members of ECOWAS were Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Burkina Faso. Since its establishment, ECOWAS has been involved in a variety of activities including the promotion of free trade, the establishment of a common market, and the development of infrastructure to facilitate regional integration.